Remember When?
By Cecil Hall
Articles First Published in the "Saguache Crescent"
Copyright 1995-2000 Cecil Hall
Table of Contents
Cecil Fraser Hall
I was born in Saguache, CO on Feb 2, 1924.
I had one brother, Charles E. Hall, who was born in 1921 and died in 1984.
Our parents were Sidney B. and Ida (Burch) Hall.
My mother's parents (George "Sandy" and Ellen
(Miles) Burch moved from Ohio, as newlyweds in 1879. My mom, born
in 1893, was one of nine children born to this couple, here in Saguache.
From the time I was a small boy I was fascinated
with stories of early day Saguache. I waited until I was 71 years
old in 1995, to start my "Remember When?" column in our local newspaper,
"The Saguache Crescent".
I attended grade school and high school in Saguache
and graduated from Saguache County High School in the class of 1942.
I worked as a truck driver for the Saguache County Road & Bridge Department
until I enlisted in the U.S. Army in the Spring of 1943. After twelve
weeks training, I was shipped overseas where I was assigned to the 45th
Infantry Division as a driver in the 120th Engineer Battalion. We
soon made the invasion at Anzio, Italy, and were in action until Rome was
taken. Next was the invasion of Southern France, then on into Germany
until the Germans surrendered, July 7, 1945. When I was discharged
on Oct. 30, 1945, I was awarded five battle stars for my time served in
combat.
Upon return to civilian life, I again worked
as a truck driver for the Saguache County Road & Bridge Department
until Nov. 1, 1947, when I started as a postal clerk, working for Postmaster
Esta M. Fuson.
On March 23, 1951, Sarah J. Graves and I were
married. We have a daughter Nancy (Hall) Welker and a son, Sidney
B. Hall and 5 grandkids.
In June of 1955, we bought an acreage near Montrose,
CO where we lived for eight years. By that time, I was a painting
contractor.
Our next move was to Ft. Collins, CO where we
lived for eleven years. Then back to the Western Slope, at Cedaredge,
CO, where I worked as a carpenter, until we moved back to Saguache in the
Summer of 1975.
After being away for twenty years, Sally and
I moved home to the house I was born in. For the next twelve years,
I kept busy doing painting and carpenter jobs until I had to retire, due
to health problems. Among other things, I served a term as County
Commissioner from 1983 thru 1986. |
